Kubica to test DTM Mercedes this week

NEWS STORY22/01/2013

Robert Kubica is to test a Mercedes during this week's test at Valencia however, hopes of a return to F1 remain remote.

The popular Pole, who was critically injured whilst participating in a rally in Italy in February 2011, will test with the HWA team during this week's test. The move was revealed during an online press conference with HWA owner - and Mercedes AMG Executive Director - Toto Wolff.

"We all obviously like Robert, he's a very special chap," said the Austrian, "and what we want to do with Mercedes-Benz is give him a chance doing a proper test in a proper race car and seeing how he goes on and how he feels.

"This is what we will be doing in the next days and I'm very glad that he's able to do that. He's very much looking forward to it and he's very excited. Let's see how it goes."

Asked whether a successful test might in turn lead to a run in an F1 car, Wolff was keen to keep things in perspective.

"If the DTM test goes well and we see that he is doing well in a proper race car with downforce, I think there are still some physical constraints to drive a monocoque chassis with his elbow and arm," he said. "I think we all would love to see Robert doing well in a Formula One car in the future but that is definitely too early at this stage."